Balanced slide valve for steam engines



Sept. 22, 1931.

W. J. MILLER BALANCED SLIDE VALVE FOR STEAM ENGiNES Filed May 24, 1950 LU gnuentof l atented Sept. 22, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM MILLER, or SULPHUR, LOUISTANA BALANCED SLIDE VAL VE FOB STEAM. Elll'GIN'ES' Application filed May 24, 1930. Serial No. 455,397.

This invention relates to a balanced slide valve for steam engines, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind embodying an improved form of cone ring and which is of a construction to assure a perfect seal. 7 v v The present day steam engines have different arrangementson top of the slide valves to cover a certain area in. order to remove the steam pressure from valve to reduce the friction between the valve and the slide valve seat and for this purpose itis required to remove the steam pressure from the top of the valve.

The present types that are now generally in use, and especially for high speed oil field drilling engines, do not eliminate this pressure satisfactorily, and it is another object of the present invention to provide a valve which fully meets with this requirement. v The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved balanced slide valve for steam engines whereby certain important advantages are attained 2 5 and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andiadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. p

- The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view with portions in elevation of a balanced slide valve constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a View in top plan of the struc- 46 ture illustrated in Figure 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a slide valve provided with an exhaust cavity 2 for communication with the atmosphere.

A cup-like or dished disc 3 is arranged on the outer face of the valve 1 and is preferably stamped out of sheet metal. This disc 3 serves as a safety device to prevent the rings 4 and 5 from being displaced, in the event either of said rings becomes broken when the engine is in operation. f A machined cone 6 is arranged at the axial center of the disc 3 and held thereto by the bolts 7 which also serve to hold the cone 6 and the 1' disc 3 in desired position upon the valve 1. 5

The base portion of the cone 6 is reduced radiallyin diameter to providean annular shoulder 8. The cone ring 4 snugly fits upon the cone member 6 and has a portion extending-within the disc 3 and the ortion 60 of the rin 4 within the disc 3 is de med by an inwardly disposed flange 9 which laps the shoulder 8 of the cone member 6. The outer portion of the ring 4 is machined to provide i: an internal rabbet 10 which snugly receives the ring 5 which also has a close or hugging fit on thecone member 6.

The rings 4 and 5 also have close contact with the steam chest cover or pressure plate 7- 4 11. It isto be noted that the rings 4 and 5 7 extend beyond the outer end of the cone member 6, as indicated at 12. The surface of the plate or cover 11 with which the rings .4 and 5 contact is machined to assure a steamtight joint to prevent the steam which surrounds the valve from entering the clearance resulting from the extended portions 12 of the rings 4 and 5. The ring 5 serves to break the joint and thereby furthereliminate the J possibility of steam passing inwardly of the $0 cone 6. p V

The rings 4 and 5 are-provided with the splits 14 and 15 to allow the rings 4 and 5 to work on the walls ofthe cone 6 to assure the edges of said rings having proper seat 35 against the steam chest coveror plate 11. The steam pressure from without Will assist the rings 4 and 5 to keep in close contact with thecone 6 and to force them to seat as they wear. The ring 4 is provided with a dowel pin 16 or the like coacting with the split 15 .to maintain said splits 14 and 15 in opposed relation.

The flange 9 prevents the ring 4 from fall- 7 .ing off when the steam chest cover or plate 11 is removed by contact of said flange 9 with the shoulder 8. The rings 4 and 5 are made of good cast iron and possess a certain degree of inherent resiliency which will enable them to be easily applied or removed. Through cover or plate 11.

the provision of the split 14 in the outer ring 4 and the inherent resiliency of the ring, the ring may be slightly deformed in the assembling of the device so that the iniwardly extending flange 9 will pass the outer edge of the shoulder SJ WVith the general type of balanced valves now in use, and especially on horizontal engines, the balanced valve appliance will fall off when the steam chest cover is removed and they are hard to keep in place when applying the cover.

With my improved device this disadvantage is eliminated and while I have produced a cheaper construction there is no loss in efficiency.

The bolts 7 have disposed axially there- 'through ports 17 which afford communication between the exhaust cavity 2 and the clearance between the cone 6 and steam chest These ports or openings 17 provide for leakage in the event the rings t'and 5 fail to seat properly as said open- 'ings or ports 17 will release the pressure if any accumulates within the clearance be- 1 tween the cone 6 and the cover or plate 11.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a balanced slide valve for steam engines constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed. I

I claim '1. In combination with a slide valve and a steam chest cover, a cone carried by the valve, a ring snugly engaging the cone and having close contact at one end thereof with the cover, and coacting means carried by the ring and cone to prevent the ring from dropping off of the cone when the cover is removed.

2. In combination with a slide valve and valve, a ring snugly engaging the cone and having close contact at one end thereof with the cover, coacting means carried by the ring and cone to prevent the ring from dropping off of the cone when the cover is removed, and a dished disc carried by the valve and in which the cone is positioned, said disc serving to prevent displacement of the ring upon breaking thereof.

4. In combination with a slide valve and a steam chest cover, a cone carried by the valve, a ring snugly engaging the cone and having close contact-at one end thereof with the cover, coacting means carried by the ring and cone to prevent the ring from dropping off of the cone when the cover is removed, the conehaving a clearance with res ct to the chest cover, the slide valve having an exhaust cavity, said cavity and clearance being in communication.

5. In combination with a slide valve and :1

a steam chest cover, a cone carried by the valve, an outer ring having an inner conical surface engaging the cone and also engaging the cover at one end thereof, an inner ring carried by the outer ring and engag- :1, ing at one end thereof against the cover,

and coacting means carried by the outer ring and the cone whereby to hold the inner an the outer rings in assembled removal of the cover.

6. In combination with a slide valve a steam chest cover, a cone carried by the valve, an outer ring engaging the cone and having close contact at one end thereof with condition upon the cover, coacting means carried by the ring WILLIAM J. MILLER.

a steam chest cover, a cone carried by the valve, a ring snugly engaging the cone and having close contact at one end thereof with r bet, said ring being for contact at one'end thereof with the cover.

3. In combination with a slide valve and a steam chest cover, a cone carried by the and 

